“I’ll start my diet on Monday,” “I’ll start exercising after we get back from vacation,”  “I’ll slow down and try to enjoy life after my next big promotion.”  These are all things that many of us say too often.  With 2017 comin’ in hot, you’ll be telling yourself … I’ll just make it my new year’s resolution and start next year, right?

Speaking of resolutions, here are the TOP TEN resolutions made year after year.

10. Read more

9.  Travel more

8.  Learn something new

7.  Won’t make a resolution

6.  Get organized

5.  Spend more time with family and friends

4.  Spend less, save more

3.  Enjoy life to the fullest

2.  Lose weight

1. Stay fit and healthy (we have all done that one before)

While we agree with staying fit and healthy, we agree with number 3 the most.  Everyone should enjoy life to the fullest!  So when you’re brushing your teeth, do a little dance.  When you’re checking out at the grocery store, stop to smile and say hello to the person behind the counter, and most importantly when you’re in your backyard, have a place you are proud to call home.

Go ahead, fantasize for a moment.  Which of these do you like the best?

Now we realize you may have to do a little of number 4 before you can start ripping up grass and laying concrete, picking out grills and paint colors, but you can get there!  We have a nifty little timeline to help you, too!  If you are set on having a custom patio built by a certain date, the guideline below will help you know when to get started.

‘Tis the season for eggnog, Aunt Betty’s famous mashed potatoes, sugar cookies, and fruit cake (for the 3 people on earth that actually like fruit cake) … it’s also the season for gaining weight.  The average person gains 7-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  So how can we have our cake and eat it too?  Well we could get in a quick workout each day, but the calories going out rarely exceed the calories going in.  For instance, you can jog on a treadmill for 30 minutes and only have 3 oz of a cocktail or spin on a bike for 30 minutes and you can only enjoy 3/4 cup of egg nog or go on a walk for an hour and that will score you 2 buttered rolls on your plate.  So we thought we would come up with some recipes that are still festive, but won’t pack on the pounds.

Deviled Eggs

12 – hard-boiled eggs

24 Tablespoons – Green Chili hummus

Peel eggs, slice in half, dump out yolk, scoop 1 Tablespoon into each half, keep chilled and serve!

These eggs will knock your stockings off, they are so good!  Here are some more delicious recipes worth trying …

Low-Fat Eggnog 

Avocado-Feta Dip

Green Bean Casserole – Slimmed 

Winter Fruit Salad 

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pomegranate and Hazelnuts 

Secret Ingredient Dark Chocolate Brownies

Peppermint Meringues 

Cheers, enjoy!!!

Click the image below to discover details about this traditional project with a hill country feel in the Tomball area.

Each month we feature one of our most gorgeous projects, whether it be a covered patio or an outdoor kitchen with a stunning fire feature, contemporary or traditional … we give you a glimpse of a highlighted completed project!  These projects were built in the greater Houston area and the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  Let’s take a look back at the projects that stole the thunder in 2016.

Click here to see all projects in greater detail!